Does Your Face Make a Good First Impression?

Like it or not, first impressions are powerful and often difficult to change. We all subconsciously judge people upon first meeting them, and we always want to make a good first impression to others. Several factors go into this impression: how we dress, our demeanor, our body language, and our overall appearance. Unfortunately, some of these factors are more difficult to control than others. If you are finding that people are becoming less receptive to you as you age, you may be falling victim to your changing expressions due to aging.

How Aging Affects Expression

Unfortunately, as we age, sagging skin and wrinkles can create furrows and folds that not only make us look older but also change our normal neutral expressions as well. This can create an illusion of disinterest, tiredness, anger, or pain even when emotions are the opposite. Studies have shown that people rate others’ neutral faces differently, depending on age. Study participants tended to rate older people as looking angry or tired more often. Fortunately, these expression problems can often be fixed through cosmetic procedures. Here are some of the areas of the face that often display false emotions through aging, along with recommended anti-aging treatments:

Forehead

The forehead is often one of the first areas of the face to show signs of aging. If your brow has begun to sag overall, you might look tired and run down. Additionally, if you have brows that sag toward the center, you can look judgmental and irritated. Furrows and lines here can make you look angry

The fix:

A brow lift, open or endoscopic, is great for people who have just started noticing signs of aging, or have sagging skin focused in the brow. Meanwhile forehead furrows and lines can be treated with a botulinum toxin.

Eyes

Eyes often start to show their age by developing bags underneath each eye and crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes. While some people have dark circles their whole lives due to genetics, older people tend to develop fat that settles below the eye. This can create an illusion of tiredness or make you look unhealthy.

The fix:

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can get rid of unattractive bags and bring a brighter look to the face. Botulinum toxin and fillers can help resolve crow’s feet for a youthful eye area.

Jaw & Neck

While the jaw and neck don’t affect expression directly, having sagging skin in these areas can give off an impression of weakness and fragility.

The fix:

A neck and chin lift can resolve excess skin and fat. These procedures are also often performed as part of a face lift.

Skin

Deep wrinkles and furrows have a way of expressing anger, even in happy and kind people. Overall aging takes its toll, and reduced skin elasticity and the effects of gravity can drastically change the appearance of the skin.

The fix:

Overall aging can be addressed with a number of treatments, including resurfacing, fillers, or a face lift.

Quick Fixes vs. Surgery

Less-invasive procedures such as laser treatments and injectable fillers are cheaper and require less downtime than surgery. However, the results may not be as comprehensive as those achieved through surgery. If you’re interested in anti-aging to help smooth out your wrinkles and overall expression, you should carefully consider your options and speak with a qualified cosmetic surgeon. If you’re looking for long-term results instead of a quick fix for a big event, you will need to do a lot of research and select your surgeon carefully.

How You Look vs. How You Feel

Many people who seek plastic surgery do so because they feel frustrated by how the negative effects of aging make them look, yet they still feel young and vibrant. If you look older than you feel, you might be an ideal candidate for plastic surgery. You deserve to look the way you feel!

Seeking Advice?

No matter what procedure you choose, finding a knowledgeable, compassionate, and experienced surgeon is key to achieving a great outcome. Choose an ethical, board-certified facial plastic surgeon who will take the time to help you understand the procedure that is right for you. For top-notch care in the Boston area, contact Dr. Stuart Bentkover of Bentkover Facial Plastic surgery in Worcester (508-363-6500) and Stoneham (617-247-0033), MA. Dr. Bentkover specializes in facelifts and rhinoplasty, and is highly skilled in the use of fillers, botulinum toxin and many other types of facial surgery. View his photo gallery of before and after patient photos to see the results that can be achieved.